On October 2, 2024, the Inter-American Defense Board held a virtual workshop on the Prevention of Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, and Explosives, organized by the Inter-American Defense Board and the Organization of American States (OAS), attended by more than 5,000 registered participants from 40 countries.
The main objective of the event was to strengthen regional capacities and multilateral cooperation to prevent illicit trafficking of firearms, ammunition and explosives, through the exchange of knowledge, good practices and advanced technologies.
The workshop brought together important figures currently working on the topic, such as the Mexican Ambassador to the OAS, Luz Elena Baños Rivas, and Steve Greener, Director of the OAS Department of Public Security. The opening remarks of the event were given by General Marco Antonio Álvarez Reyes (Mexico), President of the Council of Delegates of the IADB, while the closing remarks were given by Brigadier Flávio Luiz de Oliveira Pinto (Brazil), Director of the General Secretariat of the IADB.
The importance of comprehensive management of the life cycle of weapons and the use of advanced technologies to prevent their diversion to the illicit market were discussed. The high rates of homicides with firearms in Latin America and the Caribbean were also highlighted, which highlights the need for inter-institutional collaboration and stronger legislation to combat the problem.
The meeting served as a space to share regional experiences and explore joint solutions to improve hemispheric security.
